Gay Republicans split

A dissident faction of gay conservatives is launching a rival group to the traditional voice of gay Republicans: the Log Cabin Republicans.

GOPROUD, the new 527 group, will launch next week, according to a media advisory. The contact given for the group is Christopher Barron, a former Log Cabin political director who broke with the group.

"Essentially, there's no voice for gay Republicans or gay conservatives in particular in D.C. right now. Log Cabin has been completely and totally absent here in D.C. for months and months," Barron said. "It has simply moved way too far to the left and is basically indistinguishable from any other gay left organization."

The ideological battle has been playing out in the gay media and on some blogs for a while, spurred in part by the Blade's revelation that the Log Cabin Republicans' biggest backer is a prominent Democrat, Tim Gill. Their complaint, in general, is that Log Cabin has grown indistinguishable from left-leaning gay rights groups.

The blog GayPatriot has been making the case for a split and arguing that gay rights groups should make the case for same-sex marriage to a broader political spectrum.

The gay conservatives have also been more supportive of RNC Chairman Michael Steele, praising some of his comments suggesting that homosexuality isn't a choice.

A Log Cabin spokesman didn't respond to a comment; the group is currently without full-time staff.

Barron praised local Log Cabin chapters but said the group has left a void in Washington.

His group would, he said, focus on traditional Republican issues like private health care and private savings accounts.

"If your main issue is hate crimes or [federal anti-discrimination legislation] or marriage, you're probably not a Republican," Barron said, saying that while he backs gay groups on those other issues, they shouldn't be federal priorities.

UPDATE: A Log Cabin ally points out the group broke with other gay groups by endorsing John McCain last year, and denies it's weak in D.C., noting it has a big national convention next week featuring, among others, Meghan McCain and Steve Schmidt. The Log Cabin side also denies that this is ideological, and says Barron and his allies have fought in the past for liberal causes.